The Mine Construction Involves Cutting Down 513 Acres of Virgina Forest.

Following a Court Order that suspended work at an open-pit gold mine in San Carlos because of damage to the environment, Costa Rica President Oscar Arias and the Minister of the Environment Roberto Dobles are under investigation by the Public Ministry for breach of public duty. Arias, who originally signed a contract with Canadian company Industrias Infinito, S.A., sticks to his decision saying he did so with the understanding that the project complies with the law. However, the mine project would require cutting down 514 acres of virgin forest along the Nicaragua border that is not zoned for commercial purposes, and includes a species of protected tree. The Public Ministry began an investigation regarding the case yesterday, turning the whole affair into a big scandal.

The mine is located in Las Crucitas, in Cutris de San Carlos. The whole area is covered by a species of tree special to the region, the Yellow Almond tree. Green Macaws are almost exclusively dependent on the almonds for survival in the region, and this wonderful bird is in great danger of extinction itself. The cutting of the Yellow Almond Tree was deemed illegal this past September.

Arias insists that he signed the papers because the project had received the stamp of approval from the Ministry of the Environment (Minae), the Technical Secretary to the Environment (Setena) and the National System of Conservation Areas (Sinac). Minae and Setena are in charge of the protection of the flora and fauna and must complete technical studies of all major Costa Rica Real Estate and development projects. Arias explained that the institutions gave Dobles the authorization to sign after completing their studies and Dobles then asked Arias to join him in doing so.

It seems strange that the project was given the go ahead just when these trees were put under strict protection. It is even stranger that the Minister of the Environment himself had not noticed this little detail. Later on, Arias added that this project would provide great benefits to the country and the government. He also said that Nicaragua and many Central American countries have similar projects. However, just because some countries have developed similar projects, whether they had to destroy the environment or not, the location of the mine in Costa Rica is the problem, which is distinct to Costa Rica. It seems like a rather unfounded argument to make when there circumstances are obviously not identical to these other countries.

At the moment, the project is still on hold. Infinito has already had time to cut lots of trees in the three days that they began their work, which only goes to show what further damages would occur should this project continue. On the ground remain dozens and dozens of trunks – all that are left of the majestic Yellow Almond trees that can reach over 15 meters in height.

It seems rather strange that the President of the Republic and the Minister of the Environment would agree to such a project that is not only illegal but very harmful to nature, causing much more damage than the finding of some pellets of gold could ever repair. It would seem that yet again greed has driven selfish action, putting aside the government’s responsibility to protect forests, the trees and the animals of this country. One wonders what must be going on in Arias’s mind now that he and Dobles have been caught with their hands in the bag!

Photo courtesy of La Nacion.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on October 23rd, 2008